Most Common Junior Swing Flaw

Trying to get an idea on what others have been told by coaches as a swing flaw or less than ideal to see what is common in all juniors. Curious to see if it’s different than adults. Trail foot coming up too early (using vertical force earlier than ideal)? Grip too strong (particularly the strong hand)? Not enough rotation through the shot? Shoulder plane too flat? Guiding the putter head too much?

For us, we had to work hard last winter to change shoulder plane (backswing looked great but shoulder was way too flat on the takeaway). Also wondering if you feel these are real issues that will work itself out later on when they gain strength. Perhaps parents with older juniors can share some insight.

Steepness in downswing is a big red flag

You trying to get a bead on junior swing mechanics when even the pros have 'swing faults'? What worked for Bubba growing up wouldn't work for a guy like Adam Scott.

From the beginner's standpoint our coach says his biggest issue he has to correct is way to flat a take away on the back swing, primarily due to baseball/softball. That is always one of the first things he has to work on is getting the club head high enough.

I’m not talking about matching up. I’m just curious if there is something all juniors seem to do and whether coaches are correct to fix it. Yes, if you are a MORAD coach, you’re going to have a very different suggestion compared to a Lucas Wald. I’m just seeing if there is a commonality in what coaches try to fix in juniors.

> @CTgolf said:

> Steepness in downswing is a big red flag

Agreed. When my kids get steep I can see the power fade coming.

The two biggest ones that I see are: 1) taking the club to far to the inside on the takeaway. This gets the club way behind your body and unless you have great timing it will cause a bunch of swing issues. 2) The other issue is casting the club on the way down. You see this with almost all juniors. They can't keep that angle coming into impact and it robs them of power. You also see them "flip" with chipping as well. My daughter is 11 and she does great on keeping the angle if we hit punch shots. The minute we go to a normal follow through she flips and makes poor contact with the ball.

Lots of common issues but at the end of the day it about hitting the ball with good contact.

I don’t think juniors or most amateurs have a clue on where there club face is at impact. That is the key everything. The best players in the world know how there club is at impact.

I know it simple but this wisdom is what the best instructors actually teach.

> @tiger1873 said:

> Lots of common issues but at the end of the day it about hitting the ball with good contact.

>

> I don’t think juniors or most amateurs have a clue on where there club face is at impact. That is the key everything. The best players in the world know how there club is at impact.

>

> I know it simple but this wisdom is what the best instructors actually teach.

FWIW, my son will warm up at the range and if he's not hitting the center of the face he will hit chip shots with whatever iron he has in his hands until he feels it. I had seen him do this many times thinking he was just messing around (which I am 100% fine with since the range is f'ing boring) but once I asked him about it he told me it helps him make solid contact.

> @tiger1873 said:

> Lots of common issues but at the end of the day it about hitting the ball with good contact.

>

> I don’t think juniors or most amateurs have a clue on where there club face is at impact. That is the key everything. The best players in the world know how there club is at impact.

>

> I know it simple but this wisdom is what the best instructors actually teach.

My comment would be if those juniors and AM want to be better. They better figure out where the face is at impact. Also, where on the face they're hitting the ball.

Their swing coach can't save them during the middle of the round when they start to lose their swing.

Parents are the NUMBER 1 junior swing flaw.

Two that I see a lot. Like everyday in my son. Stance is too open to the target line and pulling the club down from the top instead of hitting the ball more with rotation of the body to make room for the club to shallow and come through the hitting zone.

Might be better to put this in instruction forum, I would think probably mostly the same as adults. Inside takeaway and over the top steep downswing. Pretty much universal issues for beginners except my dad has never really seen his swing or had a lesson and he does the opposite, clubhead outside hands and picks it straight up.

Too much lower body movement, either up and down or laterally. A lot of times because the clubs are too heavy for them (picture an adult trying to swing a sledgehammer for comparison)

The moment a coach try’s to put my sons swing v Mac O’Grady on V1, I run. If I hear anything that is similar to MORAD, I run. Just not a fan.

I loved Mike Adams on swing expedition. That he teaches based on what type of load you have is awesome.

But I think juniors are far more prone than adults to have the right hand under the grip. I think grips are just too big...

Inside takeaway, flat shoulder turn from not staying in tilt, floppy arms (no structure) often due to lack of strength.

Funny thing about flat shoulder plane and inside takeaway. For adults that’s a recipe for over the top - juniors can still get back to the inside.

> @yellowlover519 said:

> Funny thing about flat shoulder plane and inside takeaway. For adults that’s a recipe for over the top - juniors can still get back to the inside.

Often true. Adults are physically stronger so they muscle it. Most little kids cant muscle it so club often falls onto a decent DS plane

Found my son's swing flaw... tries to go after one hard and blocks it to the right.

My kid's swing flaw starts at pre-shot routine and ends with a crappy swing.

> @wildcatden said:

> My kid's swing flaw starts at pre-shot routine and ends with a crappy swing.

+1

My son played in a two day event over the weekend and I noticed this one kid that had his hands way ahead of the ball at address with the driver. From that position he consistently hit the ball low left. Worst part about it is that I know his coach and all I could think is "why hasn't this been addressed?!?!". Otherwise the kid played pretty well but just didn't have the power to keep up (hitting 6 iron from 115).

> @leezer99 said:

> My son played in a two day event over the weekend and I noticed this one kid that had his hands way ahead of the ball at address with the driver. From that position he consistently hit the ball low left. Worst part about it is that I know his coach and all I could think is "why hasn't this been addressed?!?!". Otherwise the kid played pretty well but just didn't have the power to keep up (hitting 6 iron from 115).

short-hitter shaming

> @CTgolf said:

> > @leezer99 said:

> > My son played in a two day event over the weekend and I noticed this one kid that had his hands way ahead of the ball at address with the driver. From that position he consistently hit the ball low left. Worst part about it is that I know his coach and all I could think is "why hasn't this been addressed?!?!". Otherwise the kid played pretty well but just didn't have the power to keep up (hitting 6 iron from 115).

>

> short-hitter shaming

He ended up in 3rd while a much longer player ended up DFL. Like I said, he played well but when he's hitting 3w + wedge into par 5's while other kids are hitting 7 iron onto the green there's a definite disadvantage. Ultimately his swing flaw was holding him back from scoring better than he did because he was so far behind everyone and in the rough. You can succeed with one or the other but not both.